Did you ever wish you could have a copy of the beautiful plants you come across in your travels? You can and it's easy. Most people would be glad to let you have a few cuttings of their plants. They have to prune them anyway twice a year. You may find a rare sub dwarf evergreen in a brilliant green, a hybrid azalea in flaming orange or a weeping golden chain tree in somebody's yard. Remember that only the tops of weeping trees will weep so don't use the suckers from the base.
After taking the cuttings, wrap them in a wet towel and Saran wrap until you get home. Take a five gallon empty paint bucket and pierce a ring of 3/8 inch holes half way down the sides for drainage. Mix half sand and half coarse gravel and fill the can up to the hole line. Don't put a hole in the bottom of the can. Fill the can with sharp sand (not from the beach) up to the top.
Cut the bottom of the cuttings on an angle and split the ends into three parts about two inches from the end. Dip this splayed end into a packet of Rootone and stick the cuttings four inches apart about six inches deep. Fill with water (no fertilizer) and place in a shady spot. In three to six weeks, check to see which cuttings sent down roots. Water once per week or when needed. When they have roots, transfer them to individual six inch pots and move them to a brighter spot but not full sun. In six weeks you should have a dozen or more plants ready for the garden.
Plants that are easy to root are most evergreens, forsythia, pussy willow. corkscrew willow, fire thorn and fruit trees. Be careful you don't plant the willows near drainage pipes. Any plants you have left over make wonderful gifts and if you are willing to give up some garden space for a few more five gallon cans, you can make a good dollar selling to the local nurseries. Good luck.
Retired portrait photographer. Comments welcome.
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